Cold Spring, NY

Magazzino Italian Art

Nestled in the Hudson Valley Highlands in Cold Spring, New York, Magazzino Italian Art is a museum and research center dedicated to the study and appreciation of postwar and contemporary Italian art and culture. Founded in 2017 by Nancy Olnick and Giorgio Spanu, the institution takes its name from the Italian word for “warehouse,” reflecting its origins as a space to house and celebrate the couple’s extensive collection. Its inaugural exhibition honored Margherita Stein, founder of the historic Galleria Christian Stein in Torino and a key supporter of the Arte Povera movement—a radical postwar art movement that redefined the use of materials and artistic expression in Italy.

Designed by architect Miguel Quismondo, the museum’s main building offers a striking yet serene environment that merges art, architecture, and landscape. In 2023, Magazzino expanded with the opening of the Robert Olnick Pavilion, created by architects Alberto Campo Baeza and Quismondo, adding new exhibition galleries, an education center, and Café Silvia—where Italian chef Luca Galli brings a taste of Italy to the Hudson Valley. Set on several landscaped acres, the museum’s grounds invite visitors to experience both cultural and natural beauty, blending contemporary art with pastoral tranquility.

Among its most beloved residents are the Sardinian donkeys, an unexpected yet iconic part of Magazzino’s identity. Originating from co-founder Giorgio Spanu’s native island of Sardinia, these gentle creatures have become a living symbol of the museum’s spirit—curious, communal, and deeply connected to place. Now numbering over a dozen, the donkeys roam a thoughtfully designed corral, offering visitors a moment of playfulness and connection amid the art and architecture. Their presence, alongside sculptures like Namsal Siedlecki’s Trevis Maponos, reflects Magazzino’s philosophy: a celebration of Italian culture that extends beyond the gallery walls, uniting art, nature, and life itself.

Photography by: William Mulvihill and Javier Callejas